Mercedes-Benz Vito Dualiner review
Author: David Miles
Published: 09 April 2008
Mercedes-Benz in common with most other major commercial vehicle manufacturers offer a wide range of ‘light’ vehicles, the core sales sector in the CV market.The Mercedes range has Vario, Sprinter and Vito model ranges with a variety of body options for most of these types, including panel vans, chassis cabs, dropsides, Traveliner and Dualiner load and passenger carrying models.There has been considerable growth in the demand from customers for dual-role vehicles where passengers and loads can be carried, just as happened with the pick-up sector and the emergence of the double cab models.
Vito mixes business with pleasure
Vito is the most user-friendly when it comes to combining business with pleasure. The range has an impressive line-up of variants suitable for a wide variety of customers and all have a high level of ride comfort, safety and car-like driveability not to mention the driving compartment laid out and equipped very much in the style of Mercedes MPV and SUV vehicles. Quality too is a key attribute.The Vito comes with a choice of four high torque CDI diesel engines, including a 204bhp V6 unit for the Vito 120 CDI. There is a choice of two wheelbase lengths and three body lengths, Compact, Long and Extra-long.There is the body choice of panel van, refrigerated van Dualiner – combination of van and minibus with up to eight seats, Traveliner with up to nine seats and load space, Vito Sport and Vito Sport-X, high performance where style meets performance meets function.As with all commercial vehicles the exact on the road prices depend greatly on the specification and options chosen to meet business and social needs.As ballpark figures Vito prices, excluding Vat, range from £13,560 up to around £23,000.Who buys or uses such combination vehicles as the Dualiner or Traveliner?Well businesses where loads and people need to be carried, or company vehicle users who need load space whilst working and seating for family use at other times, or active families who just need loads of space to carrying their recreational gear. The taxi industry is an emerging market for these models.Traveliner is a little more up-market with more seats and these lend themselves as hotel transport, chauffeur vehicles for airport runs, the Private Hire market as well as minibus duties.Vito Dualiner Sport. Living with
I’ve just had a few days driving the Vito Dualiner Sport which was kindly supplied by Mudie-Bond Mercedes Ltd which has commercial vehicle centres in Tewkesbury, Oxford and Kidderminster.The Dualiner is a combination of minibus and panel van. The Sport version has the same core Vito Dualiner credentials, two front passenger doors with access to the two front seat occupants, but a three position bench seat can be specified, two wide opening sliding doors which makes for easy access to the three seat passenger compartment and a high and wide tailgate at the rear which gives easy access to a huge load area.The Vito Sport - priced at around £23,000 plus VAT - I tried had a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder CDI, direct injection turbodiesel engine with 150bhp and 330Nm of torque from 1,800rpm. Drive to the rear wheels is through five-speed automatic gearbox which in addition to its fully automatic gear change function has a tiptronic gear select facility.The performance was excellent. A really quiet engine with no usual commercial vehicle diesel engine clatter, rattle and harshness. Top speed is 113mph, 0-62mph takes 12.7 seconds and the official fuel economy at 56mph is 44.1mpg and my test car returned 31.7mpg. CO2 emissions are 230g/km.Vito Dualiner has pulling power
If the Vito Dualiner Sport is required to tow a trailer, boat or caravan then the maximum braked towing weight is 2,000kg.The exterior styling of the Vito impresses, classic large Mercedes MPV or SUV aerodynamic front end styling married to a functional box shaped load area. But this is no van as it comes with windows instead of metal panels which stretch from the B to C Pillars.Alloy road wheels add to the sporty looks and the vehicle also has other car-like specification including electronic stability handling programme, anti-lock braking, traction control and brake assist. Inside there is automatic air conditioning, cruise control, driver’s airbag, fully adjustable driver’s seat with armrest, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, electric front windows and leather covered steering wheel. A car like-facia houses loads of instrumentation and the gear select lever, manual or automatic is position close at hand in the lower fascia panel which leaves clear legroom for the middle front seat passenger if the front bench seat is chosen. As with all passenger cars there is a huge array of options that can be chosen to make the vehicle fit the exact requirements of the driver, business or family users.The Dualiner is simple to drive, just like a large MPV. It is really no longer than a large estate car. The overall length is 4,748mm, the width 1,901mm and the height 1,902mm so the height might just need watching when entering multi-story car parks with restricted headroom, normally 1,850mm. There is some body roll as with any large or commercial vehicle but it feels well planted and comfortable, the steering is sharp and responsive and the brakes impressively powerful.Most of all it was the driving refinement which impressed me and the out and out performance of the responsive engine and smooth automatic transmission plus the Sport specification and styling.The concept of these dual-role vehicles is very appealing for today’s working and leisure lifestyle market sectors. When you add a Mercedes-Benz badge you end up with the added desirability factor as well.MILESTONES
Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport 115CDI.See Also:
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